Patty Presta Talks Payments and Protecting the Vulnerable

04/18/24 • 29 min

Episode Summary
Welcome to our 25 Episode. Before we get to the official description, this was such an enjoyable episode to record and catch up with an old "Ring" veteran. What started out as a catch-up session, turned into an amazing valuable episode, check below for some resource links.

In this episode of Wrestling Payments, host Joe Casali welcomes Patty Presta, AAP, NCP, the Director of Education at NEACH. Patty shares her unique journey from aspiring to be a nurse to becoming a pivotal figure in the payments industry. Her transition highlights the unexpected paths that lead to rewarding careers in finance.

Patty and Joe discuss critical topics like elder abuse and human trafficking. They emphasize the importance of education and vigilance within financial institutions to prevent exploitation. Patty’s experiences from teaching to working on the front lines against financial crimes offer invaluable insights into the evolving challenges in payments.

The conversation also covers the evolution of payment systems, from direct deposits to modern AI and P2P technologies. Patty's return to NEACH marks a full circle, bringing her expertise back to where her journey in payments began. This episode sheds light on the ongoing fight against financial crime and the importance of continuous learning in the payments industry.

Guest-at-a-Glance
Patty Presta, AAP, NCP, Director of Education NEACH
Over 20 years in payments, passionate about elder and financial abuse education.
LinkedIn

Key Insights
The Unplanned Journey into Payments

Patty’s career path serves as a fascinating example of how life can take unexpected turns. Originally aspiring to be a nurse, Patty’s journey into the payments industry began with a temporary job that unexpectedly evolved into a significant role in education within NEACH. This story highlights the unpredictable nature of career paths and the importance of being open to new opportunities. Patty's transition from a secretary tasked with web development to becoming a pivotal figure in payments training underscores the role of adaptability and learning on the job in achieving professional success.

Addressing Elder Abuse and Human Trafficking in the Financial Sector

Patty brings to light the critical issues of elder abuse and human trafficking, underscoring the financial industry's role in combating these problems. With a deep-seated passion for protecting the vulnerable, she has dedicated a significant part of her career to educating financial institutions on recognizing and preventing financial exploitation. Patty’s work in creating awareness and training materials for detecting signs of abuse and trafficking within financial transactions reveals the power of education and vigilance in making a difference. This insight underscores the importance of the financial sector's proactive engagement in societal issues.

Links
https://polarisproject.org/
https://www.thorn.org/

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Guest-at-a-Glance
Patty Presta, AAP, NCP, Director of Education NEACH
Over 20 years in payments, passionate about elder and financial abuse education.
LinkedIn

Key Insights
The Unplanned Journey into Payments

Addressing Elder Abuse and Human Trafficking in the Financial Sector

Links
https://polarisproject.org/
https://www.thorn.org/

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Wrestling with Executives

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Episode Summary

In this episode of Wrestling Payments, host Joe Casali dives into the complexities of the modern banking sector, focusing on the dynamic between risk management and innovation. Joe, an expert in the field, shares insights on how banks are adapting to regulatory changes and the increasing importance of cybersecurity.

The conversation shifts towards the challenges and opportunities presented by digital payments and consumer protection. Joe emphasizes the need for banks to evolve while ensuring customer safety in an increasingly digital world.

The episode concludes with a look ahead, as Joe discusses the future of financial services. He highlights the balance between embracing technological advancements and maintaining robust security measures to protect both banks and their customers. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and future direction of banking and payments.

Guest-at-a-Glance
Joseph Casali
NEACH
LinkedIn

Key Insights
The Risk of Complacency in Banking

Governor Michelle Bowman's speech highlighted the inherent risks of complacency within the banking sector, emphasizing the large regulatory burden faced by financial institutions. Bowman articulated the dual challenge banks encounter in balancing risk management and compliance efforts while striving for innovation and growth. This insight underlines the need for constant vigilance and adaptability in the face of evolving financial landscapes and regulatory expectations.

Innovating Consumer Protection in Digital Payments

The episode discusses a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on credit push fraud, underscoring the necessity for banks to update their approach to consumer protection. This includes adapting mitigation techniques to counteract authorized push payment fraud more effectively. It points to the importance of shifting strategies in consumer protection to keep pace with the changing nature of digital payments and the innovative tactics employed by fraudsters.

The Call for Regulation in Payment Apps

District Attorney Alvin Bragg's letter to payment apps like Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App, following a series of fraudulent scams, calls for immediate actions to enhance consumer protection. Bragg's recommendations, including multi-factor authentication and setting default lower limits on transactions, emphasize the urgent need for regulatory measures to address vulnerabilities in digital payment platforms. This insight reflects the ongoing challenges in balancing the convenience of instant payments with the security measures necessary to protect consumers from fraud.

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Wrestling with Change

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Episode Summary

In this episode of Wrestling Payments, Joe Casali sits down with Charlie Kelly from Remedy Consulting. They dive into the evolving landscape of payment systems. Charlie shares insights from his vast experience, focusing on core conversions, contract negotiations, and the challenges community banks and credit unions face.

Charlie emphasizes the importance of navigating the complexities of payment system upgrades. He highlights how Remedy Consulting aids institutions in understanding their core provider's language and the broader ecosystem. This support is crucial for making informed decisions during core negotiations or considering conversions.

The conversation also explores the intricacies of connecting traditional banking systems with emerging fintech solutions. Charlie discusses the hurdles in integrating new technologies with established banking infrastructures. He stresses the balance between innovation and maintaining security and reliability in payment systems. This episode offers a glimpse into the critical role of consultancy in simplifying and guiding financial institutions through technological transitions.

Guest-at-a-Glance
Charlie Kelly
Partner at Remedy Consulting and Host of BankTalk Podcast
Remedy Consulting
Charlie Kelly brings a wealth of experience from his tenure at one of the nation's leading core providers, focusing on project management, pricing, and contracts. Now at Remedy Consulting, he specializes in helping community banks and credit unions navigate complex payment system conversions and negotiations.
LinkedIn

Key Insights
Navigating the Maze of Payment System Upgrades

Charlie Kelly discusses the intricate process involved in payment system conversions, emphasizing the common pitfalls financial institutions encounter. A significant challenge highlighted is the misalignment between digital providers and core systems, which often lack seamless integration. This disconnection can lead to costly mistakes, such as the cancellation of nearly finalized contracts due to unrecognized incompatibilities. Kelly’s expertise shines as he guides institutions through these complex negotiations, ensuring they make informed decisions that align with their technological and financial goals.

Modernizing Financial Systems: A Delicate Balance

The episode dives into the difficulties of integrating cutting-edge fintech solutions with legacy banking systems. Charlie Kelly points out the vast gap between the innovative ideas emerging from fintech startups and the reality of incorporating these into the established infrastructure of traditional banks. The biggest hurdles are the entrenched systems of larger providers, which are not easily adaptable or open to prioritizing new fintech integrations. This insight underscores the crucial role of consulting services like Remedy Consulting in facilitating this integration, ensuring that banks can innovate while maintaining the reliability and security of their payment systems.

The Crucial Link: Consultancies in Payment Innovations

Charlie highlights the essential role of consultancies in assisting community banks and credit unions with navigating the complexities of payment system upgrades and core conversions. By acting as an intermediary between these institutions and their core providers, Remedy Consulting plays a pivotal role in deciphering the jargon and technicalities of contracts. This service is invaluable for smaller institutions that might otherwise struggle to understand the full scope of their technologi

Wrestling Payments - Patty Presta Talks Payments and Protecting the Vulnerable

Transcript

NEACH - Wrestling Payments - Patty Presta Talks Payments and Protecting the Vulnerable

[00:00:00] There's a section that's just for FIs. To look for, right? and Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher created Thorn. And, that actually goes towards the online, like Craigslist they had a link that you could purchase Craigslist and, a bed page. Those are all shut down, but what they do is they go after the online, advertisement for that stuff.

So we have to educate. Everybody, right, all fro